Granger and Wright McGill Registered Bamboo Cane Fly Rods

click on Serial Number to see full details and photos (if available)

Read a clip from "Colorado Classic Cane"

"The Granger Registered rod was the epitome of the rod makers craft in Colorado, and the one model that represents all three major Colorado companies. The Registered rod was designed by Bill Phillipson, produced first by Goodwin Granger Company and later by Wright & McGill Rod Company. The special features that set the Registered rods apart from all others include a serial number on each rod, white trim wraps at both ends of the black wraps, a chrome plated internal uplocking reel seat rather than the normal nickel silver type, and a hook keeper. They were the only Granger rods fitted by the factory with a hook keeper. The serial numbers ran consecutively from the first one built until they were discontinued in 1953. The first four digits of each serial number are the year the rod was built and the remaining numbers are the chronological numbers of the rod; numbering did not start over each year. No company records exist of exactly how many Registered rods were manufactured, but based on serial numbers of rods we have inspected, it appears fewer than 400 were built. Each rod came in a black bag and a black tube with an inscribed medallion attached to the tube. The tubes for the Registered rods were aluminum for all years except 1942, when World War II forced a switch to plastic tubes."

It is the position of "Colorado Classic Cane" author, Michael Sinclair, that if it's not in the catalog, it's not original. However, he cautions that the catalogs are a tool for us to use as a snapshot of their business at that time. As we find inconsistencies in the Registered Rods listed, Mr. Sinclair notes that there may have been many unusual favors for special customers

I hope you enjoy the information that I've been able to assemble. If you own or have first hand knowledge of Serial Numbers not listed here, please contact me and I would be glad to include it in the Registry.

Maker Model Specs Serial Number Original Bag & Tube Location
GOODWIN GRANGER 9050 9' 3/4 19399 W&M TUBE FOR 9053, ORIGINAL BAG SOUTH DAKOTA
GOODWIN GRANGER 1062 10' 3/1 193932 ORIGINAL BAG, NO TUBE TULSA, OKLAHOMA
WRIGHT & McGILL 9050 9' 3/2 194874 YES MISSOURI
WRIGHT & McGILL 9050 9' 3/2 194878 YES LYONS, COLORADO
WRIGHT & McGILL 8642 8' 6 194886 YES WINDSOR, COLORADO
WRIGHT & McGILL 8040 8' 3/2 1948148 YES LYONS, COLORADO
WRIGHT & McGILL 9050 9' 3/2 1949157 ORIGINAL BAG, NON ORIGINAL TUBE LYONS, COLORADO
WRIGHT & McGILL 8642 8' 3/1 1949160 YES MISSOURI
WRIGHT & McGILL 9050 9' 3/2 1949184 YES NEW MEXICO
WRIGHT & McGILL 9053 9' 3/2 1949215 YES LYONS, COLORADO
WRIGHT & McGILL 9053 9' 3/2 1949220 YES MISSOURI
WRIGHT & McGILL 9050 9' 3/1 1950226 UNKNOWN FLORIDA
WRIGHT & McGILL 7030 7' 2/2 1950239 YES MONTANA
WRIGHT & McGILL 9660 9' 6" 3/2 1950242 YES LYONS, COLORADO
WRIGHT & McGILL 8642 8' 6" 3/2 1950261 YES LYONS, COLORADO
WRIGHT & McGILL 8040 8' 3/2 1950268 ORIGINAL BAG, NON ORIGINAL TUBE LYONS, COLORADO
WRIGHT & McGILL 8040 8' 3/2 1950296 ORIGINAL BAG, NON ORIGINAL TUBE CALIFORNIA
WRIGHT & McGILL 8040 8' 3/2 1950300 YES IDAHO
WRIGHT & McGILL 8642 8' 6" 3/2 1951371 YES CALIFORNIA
WRIGHT & McGILL 7030 7' 2/2 1952379 BOTH REPLACEMENT ILLINOIS